Press release

Mon, Jul 1st 2013 03:45 pm

Assemblyman John Ceretto,
R-C-I-Lewiston, and State Sen. George Maziarz, R-C-I-Newfane, are urging
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to bring the nine women's equality bills
individually passed in the Senate to the Assembly floor. The nine separate
bills address a wide variety of women's issues, including protection from
sexual harassment in the workplace, human trafficking, domestic violence and
numerous forms of discrimination.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Senate
Temporary President and Majority Coalition Leader Dean Skelos have also called
on Silver to pass the nine women's equality bills.

By not passing these nine bills, Ceretto's
camp said Silver is blocking measures that would advance the cause of women's
rights.

"I am calling on Sheldon Silver to
bring the nine women's equality measures individually passed in the Senate to a
vote in the Assembly," Ceretto said. "Gov. Cuomo himself said that 'these nine
points are historic accomplishments' should they be passed. Silver and the
Assembly Majority are getting in the way of women's rights for the sake of
scoring political points.

"As the father of two daughters,
it sickens me that the Assembly leadership is standing in the way of true
reform for women. It is time for Silver to put women's rights ahead of politics
and vote to give women protection from sexual harassment in the workplace,
human trafficking, domestic violence and all forms of discrimination."

Added Maziarz, "The women of New
York deserve a vote in the Assembly on the nine individual women's equality
measures that I helped pass in the Senate. I was proud to vote in favor of all
nine bills, and now it is the Assembly's turn to do the same. Considering
recent events, it is especially important for Sheldon Silver to make a clear
statement that sexual harassment in the workforce will not be tolerated in New
York. Silver needs to stop his political posturing and pass these nine
important points that the women of New York deserve."